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Construction of vessel passage to Hậu River starts

VGP - The ground-breaking ceremony of a passage that will allow 20,000-ton sea-going vessels to enter the Hậu River, was held on December 27 in the Mekong Delta province of Trà Vinh.

December 27, 2009 2:48 PM GMT+7

The ground-breaking ceremony of a passage for large sea-going vessels to enter Hậu River, Trà Vinh Province, December 27, 2009 -. Photo: VGP/Nhật Bắc
Invested with VND 5,000 billion, the 40-km passage, built in the next 36 months, will facilitate the transport of exports from and to the Mekong Delta, where the volume of exports and imports reaches some 15 million tons a year.

Currently, due to the absence of large-scale ports in the region, large sea-going vessels have to dock at ports in Hồ Chí Minh City, causing a transport burden for Việt Nam’s biggest economic center.

 

The Cần Thơ and Cái Cui ports, two biggest ports in the delta, are now capable of receiving vessels of 5,000 tons in maximum, so 70-80% of imports and exports are flowing to Hồ Chí Minh City’s ports by roads. Longer distances increase transport cost and time, making goods, especially farm products, less competitive.

Addressing the ground-breaking ceremony, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng asked the Trà Vinh People’s Committee to continue ensuring the site clearance and social order to facilitate the project’s implementation. He also urged relevant agencies to mobilize all necessary resources and assist contractors in completing the project on schedule.

By Ngọc Vân